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Sansui AU-919 integrated amplifier - I picked this up in the 70s ago overseas. It was very highly regarded by the twidgets (various specialty electronics technicians) many of whom were enthusiasts, some of whom built their own equipment. Major military bases overseas once had "audio clubs", in effect a very large retailer that was also a hangout. A lot of equipment could be compared.
It was a full featured unit, switchable tone controls with switchable center frequency, balance control, subsonic filter, tape loop etc. It had one little switch up front which converted it from 110 wpc A/B to 10 watt A. A very flexible unit. Don't get me wrong, I thought it sounded fine in A/B. In A it was every bit as detailed yet had a smoothness to the sound that was exceptional. Great on small music. Over the years I auditioned a lot of equipment, only occasionally tempted for a change.
Unfortunately after many years one of the transistors failed. The transistors were Sony flat pack V-fets that were also used by a few other manufacturers. Unfortunately Sony had long since discontinued production, no replacements available. At that point there were no integrated amplifiers that offered all those features, of equivalent quality, at a price point I could afford. I muddled along with other temporary equipment until I could go the separates route so that the failure of one unit or other wouldn't leave me entirely dead in the water.
I am aware of the issues many have with some of the Japanese equipment from the era. IMO, this wasn't one of those. I especially wish it was still around for comparison purposes just to judge progress.
It was a full featured unit, switchable tone controls with switchable center frequency, balance control, subsonic filter, tape loop etc. It had one little switch up front which converted it from 110 wpc A/B to 10 watt A. A very flexible unit. Don't get me wrong, I thought it sounded fine in A/B. In A it was every bit as detailed yet had a smoothness to the sound that was exceptional. Great on small music. Over the years I auditioned a lot of equipment, only occasionally tempted for a change.
Unfortunately after many years one of the transistors failed. The transistors were Sony flat pack V-fets that were also used by a few other manufacturers. Unfortunately Sony had long since discontinued production, no replacements available. At that point there were no integrated amplifiers that offered all those features, of equivalent quality, at a price point I could afford. I muddled along with other temporary equipment until I could go the separates route so that the failure of one unit or other wouldn't leave me entirely dead in the water.
I am aware of the issues many have with some of the Japanese equipment from the era. IMO, this wasn't one of those. I especially wish it was still around for comparison purposes just to judge progress.
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